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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wake · mouse · bank · track · cap · bay · fan · scale

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. cap — a hat
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. cap — a lid
  7. scale — in music
  8. bank — for money
  9. scale — size or range
  10. track — a path
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. track — to keep track
  13. cap — of ice
  14. track — a song
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. bank — for money
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bank — of a river
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. wake — a trail

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com